Area Sports

Illinois’ Makira Cook, left, keeps the ball away from Mississippi State’s Anastasia Hayes during the first half of a First Four game in the NCAA women’s college basketball tournament Wednesday, March 15, 2023, in South Bend, Ind. SOUTH BEND, Ind. (A P) — Jessika Carter had 22 points, nine rebounds and four blocks, Anastasia Hayes…

FILE -Dallas Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott runs during the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022. By SCHUYLER DIXON AP Pro Football Writer The Dallas Cowboys released running back Ezekiel Elliott on Wednesday, ending a seven-season run for a two- time rushing champion who never regained the form…

SPRINGFIELD —The Taylorville girls soccer team traveled to our state capital to challenge Springfield Lutheran on Wednesday, March 15. The first half of play was the busiest the game would get. Lutheran struck first on a header with 17:00 to go before half-time. It was Taylorville’s Lorena Angel tying things up at one goal a…

RAYMOND — The entire Lincolnwood boys basketball team was recognized for their 2022-’23 season on Wednesday, March 15. The Lancers finished with a MSM Conference record 6-2 and an overall record of 24-8. The team lost to the Madison Trojans in the Regional Championship, 59-40 the final. Pictured above are the five most decorated players.…

DAYTON, Ohio (A P) — Jamarius Burton made a go- ahead jumper with 10 seconds left and Pitt edged Mississippi State 60-59 in a back- and-forth First Four game Tuesday night that featured 21 lead changes — most in the NCAA Tournament in five years. Mississippi State had a great chance to win at the end, but…

Wisconsin forward Steven Crowl (22) celebrates with teammates during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Bradley in the first round of the NIT in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 14, 2023. (Samantha Madar MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Steven Crowl scored a career-high 36 points and Wisconsin cruised to an 81- 62 victory…

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Tyler Thomas scored 25 points, including a go-ahead jumper with 9.3 seconds left in overtime, and Hofstra beat top-seeded Rutgers 88-86 on Tuesday night in the first round of the NIT. Hofstra (25-9) advances to play the winner of Wednesday’s Cincinnati- Virginia Tech game. Hofstra forward Nelson Boachie-Yiadom forced overtime by grabbing…

The Arkansas Razorbacks play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against the Illinois Fighting Illini . The teams match up Thursday for the first time this season. Arkansas is 8-10 against the SEC, and Illinois is 11-9 against the Big Ten. Illinois Fighting Illini (20-12, 11-9 Big Ten) vs. Arkansas Razorbacks (20- 13,…

FILE – A member of the Houston Astros stands in the dugout in front of a Bally Sports sign before the team’s spring training baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals on March 2, 2023, in Jupiter, Fla. Diamond Sports Group, the largest owner of regional sports networks, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Tuesday,…

Alabama players celebrate on the court after an NCAA college basketball game against Texas A&M in the finals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament, Sunday, March 12, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis) The overall No. 1 seed for March Madness is No. 1 in the final AP Top 25, too. Alabama, fresh off an…